The bill amends Section 42-28.2-8.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28.2, which pertains to the educational requirements for police officers in the area of mental health and substance use emergencies. The amendments include changes to the language to emphasize the recognition of the possible existence of mental disorders and substance use disorders, rather than simply identifying them. The bill mandates that the commission on standards and training develop mandatory training standards that comply with the certified National Council of Behavioral Health Mental Health First Aid Program (MHFA), an International Certified Crisis Intervention Team (ICCIT) training program, or other best practice training recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The training is to include information on recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and substance use disorders, de-escalating crises, and referring individuals to community resources.

The bill also requires that all law enforcement trainees be certified in one of the recognized training programs and that this training be included in all curricula for recruits and in-service trainees at police academies certified by the commission. Training presenters are to include a behavioral health practitioner with expertise in direct services to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies, and may also include certified police officers. The bill specifies that the Rhode Island municipal police training commission, in consultation with experts in mental health, will develop the course of instruction, learning and performance objectives, and training standards. The definition of "law enforcement officer" and "consumer-survivor" are updated to reflect a more current understanding of mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
1049: 42-28.2-8.3